Strange containers

HOW TO GIVE: TICKETS

Golden Ticket

Mix it with love and make the world taste good with the scrumdiddlyumptious golden ticket idea.

Balloon pop puzzle piece

Create a fake ticket and cut it up into different puzzle piece shapes. Then, blow up a bunch of balloons and before tying closed, stick a puzzle piece in each one. Place balloons all over your home and have the ticket-receiver pop the balloons one-by-one. After they have popped all the balloons and solved the puzzle, wah-la! You have successfully created a bit of thrill to complement your ticket.

Board game Clue

If you’re feeling extra adventurous, try customizing a board game where the object of the game is to figure out where they will be going. A good example of this would be to customize the board game Clue. The tickets will be in the envelope at the end of the game. It will take some patience, but that leads to a greater buildup of excitement.

HOW TO GIVE: LARGER GIFTS

Scavenger hunt

For larger gifts, thinking outside the box can get a little tricky, but even adults will be amused with a scavenger hunt. Place the gift in a super-secret spot and leave paper hints leading to its location along the way.

Trick them

Giving a gift so large that it might giveaway what’s inside? Have no fear! Fooling people into thinking they are getting a completely different gift than they are can be a great deal of fun. For example, if the gift you are giving is a new stove, instead of wrapping up the entire box, wrap up a pan. Inside the pan, tape a gift receipt for the stove to a pack of Ramen noodles. Their reaction will be priceless. Or, you could do the opposite and make the gift you are giving completely obvious like this person did.

HOW TO GIVE: FOOD

Shoebox baking kit

An affordable, easy-to-make gift for anyone who loves to bake. Take an old shoebox and place your favorite baked good recipe inside with all (or most) ingredients needed to make it. This is also a fun gift for kids.